Shloka 7

पश्चिमदिशि अन्वेषणादेशः

Instructions for the Western Search Party

Devanagari script

सुराष्ट्रान्सहबाह्लीकान् श्चन्द्रचित्रांस्तथैव च।।4.42.6।।स्फीताञ्जनपदान्रम्यान्विपुलानि पुराणि च।पुन्नागगहनं कुक्षिं वकुलोद्दालकाकुलम्।।4.42.7।।तथा केतकषण्डांश्च मार्गध्वं हरियूथपाः।

Transliteration

pratyak-sroto-gamāś caiva nadyaḥ śīta-jalāḥ śivāḥ | tāpasānām araṇyāni kāntārā girayaś ca ye ||

tatra sthalīṃ maru-prāyām aty-ucca-śirasaḥ śilāḥ | giri-jālāvṛtāṃ durgāṃ mārgitvā paścimāṃ diśam ||

tataḥ paścimam āsādya samudraṃ draṣṭum arhatha | timi-nakrāyuta-jalam akṣobhyam atha vānarāḥ ||

Translation

ดูก่อนวานรทั้งหลาย ที่นั่นมีแม่น้ำอันเป็นมงคล น้ำเย็นใส ไหลไปสู่ทิศตะวันตก จงสืบค้นป่าอาศรมของดาบส พงไพรอันทุรกันดาร และภูเขาทั้งหลาย; ทั้งที่ราบแห้งแล้งและผาหินยอดสูงชัน เมื่อค้นหาดินแดนตะวันตกอันยากลำบากซึ่งถูกโอบล้อมด้วยแนวเขาแล้ว พวกเจ้าจักไปถึงและควรได้เห็นมหาสมุทรตะวันตก—น้ำนั้นอุดมด้วยปลาวาฬและจระเข้ และยากจะกวนให้ปั่นป่วนได้

Word by Word

• स्फीतान्: prosperous
• स्फीतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्फीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; adjective qualifying जनपदान्

• जनपदान्: countries/regions
• जनपदान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनपद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• रम्यान्: delightful
• रम्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; adjective qualifying जनपदान्

• विपुलानि: vast
• विपुलानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; adjective qualifying पुराणि

• पुराणि: cities/towns
• पुराणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पुन्नागगहनम्: a punnāga thicket/grove
• पुन्नागगहनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुन्नाग + गहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पुन्नागानां गहनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुक्षिम्: Kukṣi (region)
• कुक्षिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; place-name used as object of search

• वकुलोद्दालकाकुलम्: crowded with bakula and uddālaka (trees)
• वकुलोद्दालकाकुलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वकुल + उद्दालक + आकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार/बहुलता-अर्थे तत्पुरुषः (वकुलैः उद्दालकैः च आकुलम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective qualifying (कुक्षिम्/देशम् implied)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• केतकषण्डान्: clumps of ketaka (shrubs)
• केतकषण्डान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतक + षण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (केतकानां षण्डाः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मार्गध्वम्: search (you all)
• मार्गध्वम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृग्/मार्ग् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु: मार्ग् (अन्वेषणे)

• हरियूथपाः: leaders of monkey-troops
• हरियूथपाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि + यूथप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (हरीणां यूथपाः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संबोधनार्थे (vocative sense)

Context

'O leaders of monkeys search for Sita in the countries of Saurashtra, and also Bahlika, Chandrachitra, in delightful villages and vast towns, also in Kukshi covered haphazardly with punnaga, bakula and uddalaka trees as well as ketaka shrubs.

Characters & Entities

• Sugriva
• vanaras
• western direction (paścimā diś)
• Varuṇa (implicit western ocean association)
• samudra (western ocean)
• tāpasas (ascetics)
• nakra (crocodiles/alligators)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is steadfast pursuit of a righteous goal despite hardship: the search must continue through deserts, mountains, and up to the sea, without shrinking from danger.

What is the narrative situation?

Sugrīva details the western route: rivers, ascetic forests, harsh terrain, mountain barriers, and finally the western ocean.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Dhṛti (fortitude) and utsāha (energetic resolve) in carrying out a noble mission.